Taylor is a graduate of our Young Women in Leadership (YWIL) program and a current first-year student in college studying biomedicine.
Q: How would you describe yourself before joining Girls Inc. Indy as a Sophomore in high school?
A: I would describe myself as bashful, not because I was naturally quiet or didn’t have anything to say, but because when I was in an environment with people who weren’t like-minded, I was afraid to speak up. Now, I take a lot of pride in being more assertive because Girls Inc. allowed me to mature and develop a voice.
Q: What barriers did you face that you were able to overcome?
A: I come from a very low-income family and a low-income neighborhood. My family never rose above the poverty line. Coming to Girls Inc., I met many people who lived through situations just like mine, and seeing that they are now in high positions of power really inspired me. It helped me to understand that I don’t have to be stuck in a situation forever; my situation is not something that had to define me. Girls Inc. helped me envision a better future for me more than I was ever able to.
Q: How did Girls Inc. Indy directly impact your development?
A: Having mentors and women to look up to in general impacted me tremendously – knowing that there were strong women there to support me, even women that had completely diverse backgrounds and did not look like me.
Q: How would you describe Girls Inc. to someone who has never heard of it?
A: I didn’t have the strongest family unit, so anything I lacked or did not understand at home I could go to Girls Inc. for. Girls Inc. is the reason I was able to successfully complete my college application, the FAFSA application, and even my taxes one year. Girls Inc. was like a community filled with people that helped me access the resources that I could not access myself.
Q: What inspired you to choose medicine?
A: I chose to study medicine because the mortality rates for Black women are too high, and women’s health is not being taken seriously in general. I want to go into medicine to help
the underdog.
Q: What advice would you give girls facing similar barriers?
A: Even when life is difficult, always remember and understand why you are doing something. There were times that I was riding the bus to Girls Inc. through storms and pouring rain – walking ten blocks from the bus stop – but in the end, I would have a great workshop and talk to inspiring people. It was hard, but it was worth it.